Geek/Writer Rambles Ignorantly About Shit

Mockingbird #1 – You May Be Hallucinating This Review

The team of writer Chelsea Cain, artist Kate Nyemczyk and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg team-up for a Mockingbird five issue mini-series that’s already got you wondering what the fuck is going on from the first issue.

As with most of my Marvel comics knowledge, my introduction to Mockingbird came from the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes series (I’m real tempted to do a rewatch and sort of review it on here because it’s really must-watch material if ever you want to get into Marvel but want an introductory course. It’s like Marvel 101.) Generally associated with the S.H.I.E.L.D., almost as a secondary to Black Widow and Hawkeye, that’s essentially the bulk of my knowledge. She’s also on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (one of two Marvel projects I need to watch to catch-up on the MCU) and is getting her own show called Marvel’s Most Wanted soon enough so she’s definitely on her way to a greater spotlight.

Mockingbird is a very different sort of coming, and not at all what I was expecting. Any thoughts of a spy thriller akin to what Black Widow’s series is doing should be tossed out the door. In this, Mockingbird has to report to S.H.I.E.L.D. whenever they request it and every week. You see, Nick Fury injected her with the Super Soldier Serum and the Infinity Formula and she’s being monitored for any latent power or side effects by S.H.I.E.L.D.’s medical facilities.

Alas, you can sort of guess the frustration that might come with, particularly when she’s told that no matter the assignment, she must report there as soon as called up. Furthermore, consider S.H.I.E.L.D.’s less than noble past, you can most certainly conclude that they’ve probably got less than noble goals in regards to Mockingbird’s safety.

The story jumps through time as we see Mockingbird breakthrough a one-way mirror to spot a crew of zombie-like folks staring at her, leading us to believe that she’s uncovered some conspiracy centered around her. Sent back to about a month ago, we return periodically to the medical facility to see the evolution of Mockingbird’s state at the facility. Each time she increasingly grows more sarcastic, jumps up on the paranoia rating, seems increasingly more irritable. She also manages to make a ball disappear making us think that she might be getting those latent powers mentioned earlier. But it becomes relatively clear when she starts denying symptoms that Mockingbird maybe isn’t alright and those white zombies aren’t really there, the disappearing ball, it’s still very much present and something’s wrong with her. Figuring out what that is is what the next three issues promises to unveil as we go through each between-visit mission in more linear issues to figure out what’s going on.

The fun I had with this issue, aside from the fun unveiling of the story, is the little things. Seeing the various characters that are attending the S.H.I.E.L.D. clinic: Howard the Duck, Iron Man, poor Hercules, Black Widow, chicken-pox struck Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and their kid. Then there’s the various outfits which promise to get delved upon in future issues, and her adorable corgi by the end of it too.

It’s a fun issue and one that had so much worth paying attention to in the art that I was paying attention to every detail, and every word on the medical documents peppered throughout, even the Howard the Duck journal about mass antelope’s dying off had my attention. And man, just looking back it now, there’s so much fun stuff in there. A green cup titled “Bruce Banner – My Stuff” with a fork and a knife, a “yoghurts belong to Black Widow!” sign and an adorable Deadpool drawing. In any case; here’s to another great four issues, and hey, maybe getting sold enough to jump on the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. boat sooner than I expected.